Managing a fleet of devices

Abstract

Methods of managing a fleet of devices are provided, as are methods for configuring a standby device for a job in a workflow environment, and methods for performing a job in a workflow environment. Device information is analyzed, such as information pertaining to verification systems. Device instructions are sent to various locations on a device network in response to a deviation from a parameter value having been detected. The deviation from the parameter value may correspond to printed media and/or indicia produced by one or more devices. A workflow device and a standby device are provided, and the workflow device sends configuration data to the standby device. The standby device installs configuration data and is introduced into the workflow environment.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for managing a fleet of devices, the method comprising:
 grading a printed content generated by a first workflow device; 
 obtaining, from the first workflow device, device information comprising at least information pertaining to device performance associated with the first workflow device, wherein the device performance is determined at least based on the grading of the printed content; 
 determining a deviation in the device performance from an expected device performance; 
 receiving a status signal from a set of workflow devices indicating an availability of one or more workflow device to be configured for a job; 
 determining a remaining life of the first workflow device based on the determined deviation; 
 in response to determination of the device performance based on the remaining life of the first workflow device, selecting a second workflow device from the set of workflow devices based at least on a status signal broadcasted by the second workflow device; 
 in response to selecting the second workflow device, configuring the second workflow device such that a configuration of the second workflow device matches a configuration of the first workflow device; and 
 rerouting the job from the first workflow device to the second workflow device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the device information is associated with at least one of a maintenance schedule of the first workflow device, a performance parameter of the first workflow device, a failure rate of the first workflow device, or a device uptime of the first workflow device. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the device information is associated with a performance parameter comprising an output quality, a productivity, an uptime, a cost efficiency, a specification targets and a control limit. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the device information is associated with a maintenance schedule of the first workflow de vice that is determined based on device uptime and performance parameter to avoid potential future failure of the first workflow device. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 selecting the second workflow device amongst one or more standby workflow devices based at least in part the status signal broadcasted by the one or more standby workflow devices, wherein the status signal comprises an identity of the second workflow device, a network address of the second workflow device and an availability of the second workflow device; and 
 transmitting configuration data to the second workflow device. 
 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the second workflow device is configured by causing an installation of at least one of a firmware, a software, or an application on the second workflow device. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the job is assigned to the second workflow device in response to determining that the configuration installed in the second workflow device matches the configuration installed in the first workflow device. 
     
     
       8. A system for managing a fleet of devices the system comprising:
 a processor: 
 a non-transitory memory comprising program code, the non-transitory memory and the program code configured to, with the processor, cause the system to at least: 
 grade a printed content generated by a first workflow device; 
 obtain, from the first workflow device, device information pertaining device performance associated with the first workflow device, wherein the device performance is determined at least based on the grading of the printed content; 
 determine a deviation of the device performance from an expected device performance to determine a remaining life of the first workflow device; 
 receive a status signal from a set of workflow device indicating an availability of one or more workflow device to be configured for a job; 
 based on the remaining life of the first workflow device, select a second workflow device based at least on a status signal broadcasted by the second workflow device; 
 configure the second workflow device such that a configuration of the second workflow device matches a configuration of the first workflow device; and 
 reroute the job from the first workflow device to the second workflow device. 
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the device information is associated with at least one of a maintenance schedule of the first workflow device, a performance parameter of the first workflow device, a failure rate of the first workflow device, or a device uptime of first workflow device. 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the device information is associated with a performance parameter comprising an output quality, a productivity, an uptime, a cost efficiency, a specification targets and a control limit. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the device information is associated with a maintenance schedule of the first workflow device that is determined based on device uptime and performance parameter to avoid potential future failure of the first workflow device. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the non-transitory memory and the program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the system to:
 select the second workflow device amongst one or more standby workflow devices based at least in part on the status signal broadcasted by the one or more standby workflow devices, wherein the status signal comprises an identity of the second workflow device, a network address of the second workflow device and an availability of the second workflow device; and 
 transmit configuration data to the second workflow device. 
 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the second workflow device is configured by installing at least one of a firmware, a software, or an application on the second workflow device. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the job is assigned to the second workflow device in response to determining that the configuration installed in the second workflow device matches the configuration installed in the first workflow device. 
     
     
       15. A computer program product for managing a fleet of devices, the computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising an executable portion configured to:
 grade a printed content generated by a first workflow device; 
 obtain, from the first workflow device, device information pertaining to device performance associated with the first workflow device, wherein the device performance is determined at least based on the grading of the printed content; 
 determine a deviation of the device performance from an expected device performance to determine a remaining life of the first workflow device; 
 receive a status signal from a set of workflow device indicating an availability of one or more workflow device to be configured for a job; 
 based on the remaining life of the first workflow device, select a second workflow device based on at least a status signal broadcasted by the second workflow device; 
 in response to selecting the second workflow device, configure the second workflow device such that a configuration of the second workflow device matches a configuration of the first workflow device; and 
 reroute the job from the first workflow device to the second workflow device. 
 
     
     
       16. The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the device information is associated with at least one of a maintenance schedule, a performance parameter of the first workflow device, a failure rate of the first workflow device, or a device uptime of the first workflow device. 
     
     
       17. The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the device information is associated with a performance parameter comprising an output quality, a productivity, an uptime, a cost efficiency, a specification targets and a control limit. 
     
     
       18. The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the device information is associated with a maintenance schedule of the first workflow device that is determined based on device uptime and performance parameter to avoid potential future failure of the first workflow device. 
     
     
       19. The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the computer-readable program code portions comprising the executable portion configured to:
 select the second workflow device amongst one or more standby workflow devices based at least in part on the status signal broadcasted by the one or more standby workflow devices, wherein the status signal comprises an identity of the second workflow device, a network address of the second workflow device and an availability of the second workflow device; and 
 transmit configuration data to the second workflow device. 
 
     
     
       20. The computer program product according to  claim 15 , wherein the job is assigned to the second workflow device in response to determining that the configuration installed in the second workflow device matches the configuration installed in the first workflow device.